June 26, 2010
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Ten members of the Old Dominion field hockey program, both current and former, participated in the USA Field Hockey National Championships in Virginia Beach this past week. The athletes that competed in the tournaments were battling for spots on the Women's National and Developmental Squads, along with opportunities to play in the Junior National Camps, Futures Elite Program and the Junior Olympics.
The Women's National Championship featured the top athletes from USA Field Hockey's eight High Performance Centers (Boston, North, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, South, California) and included current National Team players and Olympians. The Junior High Performance Training Center program began in 2010 with four sites (New England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic) and highlights the nation's top U21 players.
Former Lady Monarchs Alyschia Conn, Katelyn Smither, Tiffany (Snow) Huisman, Caroline Nichols and Kelly Driscoll all competed in the 2010 Senior Women's National Championships. Huisman and Nichols, along with current ODU assistant coach Amy Tran, are all current members of the Women's National Team.
Smither's and Driscoll's Pennsylvania team reached the championship game before falling to undefeated New Jersey, 1-0.
ODU also had five participants in the inaugural Juniors Tournament. Current Lady Monarchs Kathryn Kirk, Christy Longacre, Julie Hodge, Danielle Clutter and Marla Petriello all participated on the Mid-Atlantic team that went 2-1 in pool play and advanced to the championship game before falling to Pennsylvania, 2-0.
For more information on the Lady Monarchs that participated in the tournament, please visit www.usafieldhockey.com.
-ODU-